say YES to yourself! | Midlife Reinvention: Real Stories, Bold Moves

Wendy Harrop

Say YES to Yourself! is a top midlife podcast for women in their 40s, 50s, and beyond who are reinventing their lives and navigating major life transitions.  This podcast is for you if you're asking: 1. Why do I feel lost as a woman in midlife? 2. Who am I now that my kids are grown and I have an empty nest? 3. Is it too late to reinvent myself in my 40s or 50s? 4. How do I rebuild after a divorce or a major life change? 5. Why do I feel guilty for wanting more for myself in midlife? 6. How do I stop people-pleasing and start putting myself first? 7. How do women reinvent themselves after caregiving or burnout? 8. How do I rebuild confidence and trust myself again in midlife? 9. How do I navigate a midlife transition without losing myself? 10. How do I make a career pivot in midlife that actually feels aligned? Each week, host Wendy Harrop interviews inspiring women who are reinventing their lives in midlife. From career changes and creative pursuits to empty nest transitions and personal breakthroughs, you'll hear real stories of midlife transformation, courage, and joy. Topics include: midlife reinvention, starting over after 40, second chapter living, empty nest syndrome, midlife career change, women's empowerment, personal growth for women over 50, midlife transitions, rebuilding after divorce, and finding yourself again in midlife. Say YES to Yourself! is for midlife women ready to shed outdated expectations, rewrite their stories, and put themselves first—without guilt or apology. Your best chapter starts now.

  1. 1D AGO

    How to Stop People Pleasing (A Somatic Coach's Approach) | Darshana Avila

    Fan Mail: Tell Wendy how you're saying yes to yourself! Join Wendy for her dreamy Summer Solstice White Party on Saturday June 20, 2026 —an al fresco evening of delicious food, intention-setting, and celebration at the Phineas Wright House. Wear white, gather at the long table in the field, and toast to the season ahead.  Save you seat here: phineaswrighthouse.com/the-shop/p/summer-solstice-white-party In this episode, Wendy sits down with Darshana Avila, somatic experiencing practitioner and body-based trauma healer. Darshana is a recovering people pleaser who's spent years unwinding the cultural scripts we're all handed unknowingly: the ones about gender roles, perfectionism, and who we're supposed to be. They explore: Why people pleasing is rooted in cultural conditioning (and how to recognize the script you've been reading)How trauma lives in your body and healing means changing your present relationship to the pastWhy forgiveness is a beautifully selfish act that frees you from resentmentDarshana talks about softening into embodiment, surrender as a practice, and what happens when we embrace our wholeness. This is a conversation about unwinding the people-pleasing patterns we didn't know we were practicing, and what becomes possible when we soften into our bodies and choose to lay down our armor. Connect with Darshana: Website: darshanaavila.com Instagram: instagram.com/darshana_avila Deeper with Darshana Podcast: darshanaavila.com/podcast ________________________________________________________________________________________ Connect with Wendy: Linkedin Instagram: @wendy.harrop Facebook: Phineas Wright House Website: Phineas Wright House PWH Farm Stays PWH Curated Experience and Travel Interested in being a guest on the show? Send your pitch to podcast@phineaswrighthouse.com Podcast Production By Shannon Warner of Resonant Collective Want to start your own podcast? Let's chat! If this episode resonated, follow Say YES to Yourself! and leave a  5-star review. It helps more women in midlife discover the tools, stories, and community that make saying YES not only possible, but powerful.

    52 min
  2. 6D AGO

    How to Be Ambitious and a Great Mom (Without the Guilt) | Laurie Maddalena

    Fan Mail: Tell Wendy how you're saying yes to yourself! Join Wendy for her dreamy Summer Solstice White Party on Saturday June 20, 2026 —an al fresco evening of delicious food, intention-setting, and celebration at the Phineas Wright House. Wear white, gather at the long table in the field, and toast to the season ahead.  Save you seat here: phineaswrighthouse.com/the-shop/p/summer-solstice-white-party In this episode, Wendy sits down with Laurie Maddalena, leadership consultant who started her business nearly two decades ago and has raised three children while building it. Laurie spent years wrestling with the question: Can I be ambitious and a great mom?  They explore: Why asking for support isn't weakness—it's healthy modeling for your childrenHow to confront the narrative that "I'm the mom so I should do it all"Why intentionality matters more than perfection when juggling multiple rolesLaurie struggled to write her book for years until her husband said, "Just go away a few nights a month and work on it." She couldn't believe he was offering. Her internal narrative was screaming: I'm the mom, I'm the person who should be doing these things. But she did it anyway, finished the book, and is still doing the work of believing she doesn't have to do it all alone. This is a conversation about leaning into support and remembering that being ambitious doesn't come at the expense of being a great mom. Connect with Laurie: Website: LaurieMaddalena.com Get her book, The Elevated Leader: https://amzn.to/49HTvLS LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lauriemaddalena Instagram: instagram.com/lauriemaddalena ________________________________________________________________________________________ Connect with Wendy: Linkedin Instagram: @wendy.harrop Facebook: Phineas Wright House Website: Phineas Wright House PWH Farm Stays PWH Curated Experience and Travel Interested in being a guest on the show? Send your pitch to podcast@phineaswrighthouse.com Podcast Production By Shannon Warner of Resonant Collective Want to start your own podcast? Let's chat! If this episode resonated, follow Say YES to Yourself! and leave a  5-star review. It helps more women in midlife discover the tools, stories, and community that make saying YES not only possible, but powerful.

    54 min
  3. MAY 20

    The Confidence You Can't Hand Out (And How to Build It Instead) | Randi Crawford

    Fan Mail: Tell Wendy how you're saying yes to yourself! Say "Yes!" to travel! Just check your calendar, book your flight, and pack your cute outfits: Cognac Jewelry School, France June 27-July 4, 2026 or August 15-22, 2026: phineaswrighthouse.com/the-shop/p/cognac-jewellery-school-summer-foundations2027 Foundations: phineaswrighthouse.com/the-shop/p/cognac-jewellery-school-summer-foundations-2027SIn this episode, Wendy sits down with Randi Crawford, coach and speaker who works with young adults and their moms. Moms constantly ask Randi: How do I help my daughter build confidence? Her answer: You can't hand it out. She has to build it herself through small wins. They explore: Why confidence comes from doing little things, not big performative momentsWhy moms need their own lives so they're not overly involved in their children's identitiesWhy there's no group of cool girls to fit into—you are the cool girlRandi thought she'd be coaching menopausal women but ended up working with their daughters instead. Now she helps both: teaching girls to find who they are in a world trying to tell them who they should be, and teaching moms to step back and get their own lives. This is a conversation about building real confidence and helping the next generation do the same. Connect with Randi: Website: RandiCrawfordCoaching.com TikTok: tiktok.com/@randicrawfordcoaching Instagram: instagram.com/randicrawfordcoaching Referenced in this Episode:  Jay Shetty: www.jayshetty.me National Charity League: www.nationalcharityleague.org ________________________________________________________________________________________ Connect with Wendy: Linkedin Instagram: @wendy.harrop Facebook: Phineas Wright House Website: Phineas Wright House PWH Farm Stays PWH Curated Experience and Travel Interested in being a guest on the show? Send your pitch to podcast@phineaswrighthouse.com Podcast Production By Shannon Warner of Resonant Collective Want to start your own podcast? Let's chat! If this episode resonated, follow Say YES to Yourself! and leave a  5-star review. It helps more women in midlife discover the tools, stories, and community that make saying YES not only possible, but powerful.

    48 min
  4. MAY 15

    When Your 42-Year Marriage Ends at 65 (And You Decide Who You Want to Be) | Debbie Spence

    Fan Mail: Tell Wendy how you're saying yes to yourself! Join Wendy for her dreamy Summer Solstice White Party on Saturday June 20, 2026 —an al fresco evening of delicious food, intention-setting, and celebration at the Phineas Wright House. Wear white, gather at the long table in the field, and toast to the season ahead.  Save you seat here: phineaswrighthouse.com/the-shop/p/summer-solstice-white-party In this episode, Wendy sits down with Debbie Spence, who just turned 65 and is rewiring everything. Her 42-year marriage ended two years ago, and she had to ask herself: Who do I want to be? Not who am I, but who do I want to be for the rest of my life? They explore: Why you get brand new neurons every morning that don't know what you believed yesterdayHow to plant seeds for the future (not just live in the present)The difference between telling your story from a scar vs. from a woundDebbie spent four years writing a book about saying yes to herself through travel and wanderlust, weaving in stories of other people who stepped out in faith. She had almost finished it when her husband left. She could have abandoned it—the story she'd told suddenly felt untrue—but she came back and wrote the last chapter from the vulnerability.  Tune in for a conversation that will inspire you to choose who you'll be for the rest of your life. Connect with Debbie: Get her book, Searching for Home: amzn.to/4u6pvS1 Instagram: instagram.com/debbiespence_author Referenced in this Episode: The Numerology of Endings & Renewal | Dina Berrin: buzzsprout.com/1872382/episodes/18106144 Marie Kondo Method: konmari.com Malcom Gladwell Tipping Point: amzn.to/4uRvE4M Saying YES to French Lifestyle with Beeta Hashempour Founder of Mon Petit Four®: buzzsprout.com/1872382/episodes/11858194 ________________________________________________________________________________________ Connect with Wendy: Linkedin Instagram: @wendy.harrop Facebook: Phineas Wright House Website: Phineas Wright House PWH Farm Stays PWH Curated Experience and Travel Interested in being a guest on the show? Send your pitch to podcast@phineaswrighthouse.com Podcast Production By Shannon Warner of Resonant Collective Want to start your own podcast? Let's chat! If this episode resonated, follow Say YES to Yourself! and leave a  5-star review. It helps more women in midlife discover the tools, stories, and community that make saying YES not only possible, but powerful.

    53 min
  5. MAY 13

    How to Listen to Your Body (A Medical Intuitive's Approach) | Katie Beecher

    Fan Mail: Tell Wendy how you're saying yes to yourself! Say "Yes!" to travel! Just check your calendar, book your flight, and pack your cute outfits: Cognac Jewelry School, France June 27-July 4, 2026 or August 15-22, 2026: phineaswrighthouse.com/the-shop/p/cognac-jewellery-school-summer-foundations2027 Foundations: phineaswrighthouse.com/the-shop/p/cognac-jewellery-school-summer-foundations-2027SIn the 300th episode of Say YES to Yourself!, Wendy sits down with Katie Beecher, licensed counselor and medical intuitive who helps people connect to their intuition and listen to what their bodies are trying to tell them. Katie recovered from bulimia at age 16 after reaching out to a Jungian psychologist without her parents' support—a decision that changed the trajectory of her life. They explore: How to challenge your worry and ask: Is this fruitful or just draining?Why treating symptoms as friends changes everythingHow to stop waiting for perfect conditions and start living your life nowThis is a conversation about trusting yourself, setting boundaries, and learning to live now instead of waiting for perfect conditions.  Connect with Katie: Get her book, Heal From Within: https://a.co/d/0bVHH8sw  Website: katiebeecher.com Facebook: facebook.com/beechermedicalintuitive  Instagram: instagram.com/katiebeecher_medical_intuitive Referenced in this Episode: Course in Miracles Links amzn.to/4u1EaOl marianne.com/acim/ apps.apple.com/us/app/acim-remind/id737568020 ________________________________________________________________________________________ Connect with Wendy: Linkedin Instagram: @wendy.harrop Facebook: Phineas Wright House Website: Phineas Wright House PWH Farm Stays PWH Curated Experience and Travel Interested in being a guest on the show? Send your pitch to podcast@phineaswrighthouse.com Podcast Production By Shannon Warner of Resonant Collective Want to start your own podcast? Let's chat! If this episode resonated, follow Say YES to Yourself! and leave a  5-star review. It helps more women in midlife discover the tools, stories, and community that make saying YES not only possible, but powerful.

    1 hr
  6. MAY 8

    How to Sync Your Life to Your Cycle (Even After Menopause) | Dr. Aumatma Simmons

    Fan Mail: Tell Wendy how you're saying yes to yourself! Say "Yes!" to travel! Just check your calendar, book your flight, and pack your cute outfits: Cognac Jewelry School, France June 27-July 4, 2026 or August 15-22, 2026: phineaswrighthouse.com/the-shop/p/cognac-jewellery-school-summer-foundations2027 Foundations: phineaswrighthouse.com/the-shop/p/cognac-jewellery-school-summer-foundations-2027SIn this episode, Wendy sits down with naturopathic doctor and fertility expert, Dr. Aumatma Simmons. Dr. Aumatma teaches how women operate on two clocks, the 24-hour circadian rhythm and the 28-day menstrual or moon cycle, and why syncing your life to your cycle is a superpower. They explore: How postmenopausal women can sync to the moon cycle (and why it helps with burnout)The four seasons of your cycle and what to do in each phaseWhy your hormones aren't the problem but indicators that something is out of alignmentThis is a conversation about reconnecting your head and your body. Dr. Aumatma walks through the menstrual cycle as seasons, starting with winter (the first 1-3 days when hormones are at baseline and intuition is strongest). Whether you're cycling or syncing to the moon, this framework helps you work with your physiology instead of fighting it. Connect with Dr. Aumatma: Egg Meets Sperm Podcast: holisticfertilityinstitute.com/podcast Get the first chapter of her book, Hormonal Leadership:  holisticfertilityinstitute.com/leadershipbook Instagram instagram.com/holisticfertilitydoctor LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/aumatma YouTube youtube.com/c/HolisticFertilityExpert ________________________________________________________________________________________ Connect with Wendy: Linkedin Instagram: @wendy.harrop Facebook: Phineas Wright House Website: Phineas Wright House PWH Farm Stays PWH Curated Experience and Travel Interested in being a guest on the show? Send your pitch to podcast@phineaswrighthouse.com Podcast Production By Shannon Warner of Resonant Collective Want to start your own podcast? Let's chat! If this episode resonated, follow Say YES to Yourself! and leave a  5-star review. It helps more women in midlife discover the tools, stories, and community that make saying YES not only possible, but powerful.

    54 min
  7. MAY 6

    The Good Daughter Trap: Caring for Aging Parents on Your Terms | Dr. Allison Alford

    Fan Mail: Tell Wendy how you're saying yes to yourself! Say "Yes!" to travel! Just check your calendar, book your flight, and pack your cute outfits: Edinburgh, Scotland | July 6-10, 2026 phineaswrighthouse.com/the-shop/p/edinburgh Cognac Jewelry School, France June 27-July 4, 2026 or August 15-22, 2026: phineaswrighthouse.com/the-shop/p/cognac-jewellery-school-summer-foundations2027 Foundations: phineaswrighthouse.com/the-shop/p/cognac-jewellery-school-summer-foundations-2027In this episode, Wendy sits down with Dr. Allison Alford, author of Good Daughtering, a researcher who spent 10 years studying what it means to be a good daughter to aging parents. Dr. Allison introduces the concept of being a "B-plus daughter"—showing up and doing the work without the unnecessary striving for A++ perfection in every role. They explore: Why we're grading ourselves on imaginary scorecards (and who's doing the grading anyway)The difference between hedonic happiness (fun in the moment) and eudaemonic happiness (life well lived)Why obligation doesn't mean unhappiness, and how to get comfortable with thatThis is a conversation about recognizing you're already doing it. Dr. Allison shares why women need more language for discussing daughtering, why we create expectations no one actually gave us, and how to give yourself permission to be enough exactly as you are. Connect with Dr. Allison: Instagram @daughtering101 Daughtering101.com Referenced in this Episode: Martin Seligman - Positive Psychology Center: https://ppc.sas.upenn.edu/people/martin-ep-seligman On Our Best Behavior by Elise Loehnen: https://a.co/d/0fGeOtwQ ________________________________________________________________________________________ Connect with Wendy: Linkedin Instagram: @wendy.harrop Facebook: Phineas Wright House Website: Phineas Wright House PWH Farm Stays PWH Curated Experience and Travel Interested in being a guest on the show? Send your pitch to podcast@phineaswrighthouse.com Podcast Production By Shannon Warner of Resonant Collective Want to start your own podcast? Let's chat! If this episode resonated, follow Say YES to Yourself! and leave a  5-star review. It helps more women in midlife discover the tools, stories, and community that make saying YES not only possible, but powerful.

    54 min
  8. MAY 1

    When You Take Inspired Action to Manifest the Life You Want | Leighann Shafiq

    Fan Mail: Tell Wendy how you're saying yes to yourself! Wendy bought a chateau in France! She shares the full story in her Coffee Chat with Liz McHutcheson on YouTube. youtu.be/o-TDZ31pHSQ Say "Yes!" to travel! Just check your calendar, book your flight, and pack your cute outfits: Edinburgh, Scotland | July 6-10, 2026 phineaswrighthouse.com/the-shop/p/edinburgh Cognac Jewelry School, France June 27-July 4, 2026 or August 15-22, 2026: phineaswrighthouse.com/the-shop/p/cognac-jewellery-school-summer-foundations2027 Foundations: phineaswrighthouse.com/the-shop/p/cognac-jewellery-school-summer-foundations-2027In this episode, Wendy sits down with Leighann Shafiq, an American nurse living in the Swiss mountains who went part-time to be more present for her young daughter. Her photography business gave her the financial confidence to make that leap. She's living proof that taking inspired action—not just manifesting—creates the life you want. They explore: How Leighann moved to Switzerland for a seasonal ski camp job and never leftWhy her photography business gave her the freedom to go part-time in nursingWhy manifesting the feeling is more powerful than manifesting the thingThis is a conversation about living in the messy middle and taking inspired action. Leighann shares why there's always a barrier, and that doesn't mean you shouldn't pursue what you want—it means find a way, ask for help, and take the next step. Connect with Leighann: Instagram @peace_love_leigh TikTok tiktok.com/@peace.love.leigh PeaceLoveLeigh.com Referenced in this Episode: Living Abroad as a Single Mom and Redefining What's Possible | Jen Kantor : buzzsprout.com/1872382/episodes/18260314 ________________________________________________________________________________________ Connect with Wendy: Linkedin Instagram: @wendy.harrop Facebook: Phineas Wright House Website: Phineas Wright House PWH Farm Stays PWH Curated Experience and Travel Interested in being a guest on the show? Send your pitch to podcast@phineaswrighthouse.com Podcast Production By Shannon Warner of Resonant Collective Want to start your own podcast? Let's chat! If this episode resonated, follow Say YES to Yourself! and leave a  5-star review. It helps more women in midlife discover the tools, stories, and community that make saying YES not only possible, but powerful.

    48 min
5
out of 5
90 Ratings

About

Say YES to Yourself! is a top midlife podcast for women in their 40s, 50s, and beyond who are reinventing their lives and navigating major life transitions.  This podcast is for you if you're asking: 1. Why do I feel lost as a woman in midlife? 2. Who am I now that my kids are grown and I have an empty nest? 3. Is it too late to reinvent myself in my 40s or 50s? 4. How do I rebuild after a divorce or a major life change? 5. Why do I feel guilty for wanting more for myself in midlife? 6. How do I stop people-pleasing and start putting myself first? 7. How do women reinvent themselves after caregiving or burnout? 8. How do I rebuild confidence and trust myself again in midlife? 9. How do I navigate a midlife transition without losing myself? 10. How do I make a career pivot in midlife that actually feels aligned? Each week, host Wendy Harrop interviews inspiring women who are reinventing their lives in midlife. From career changes and creative pursuits to empty nest transitions and personal breakthroughs, you'll hear real stories of midlife transformation, courage, and joy. Topics include: midlife reinvention, starting over after 40, second chapter living, empty nest syndrome, midlife career change, women's empowerment, personal growth for women over 50, midlife transitions, rebuilding after divorce, and finding yourself again in midlife. Say YES to Yourself! is for midlife women ready to shed outdated expectations, rewrite their stories, and put themselves first—without guilt or apology. Your best chapter starts now.

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